Summited Seward Mountain 4361' during an overnight at the Blueberry Lean-To. We backpacked in and stayed the night at the lean-to after our earlier summit of Seymour Mountain. We woke up around 6am and headed onto the trail towards Seward around 7:30am. After turning right at the cairn, the unmarked trail rose gradually, until becoming a monster. The trail became very difficult with mud caked up on the rock slides. This made for a slow going. Also there was seriouis scrambling in certain sections and my full attention was on my footing. We reached the summit around 10:30am, and decided not to push towards Emmons & Donaldson due to inclemental weather. A strenuous climb and an even more difficult descent back down.

Ascended via the Calkins Brook Route. First Donaldson, then Emmons, then back track to Seward. Descended via the North Slope to Ward Brook. Lots of water, mud, and patches of snow on the ridgeline. Challenging but fun day! With my high peaks hiking buddy RD Jim. #38/46.

Hiked up from the Corey's parking area after a week of rain. The whole trail was a muddy, wet slog. The upper part of the trail was the same, which slowed me down a good bit. Patches of snow the higher I got, and with the wind at the summit my hands were getting numb pretty quickly. Didn't spend much time at the top and wasn't going to have time for the other 2 summits, so I'll be going back next year...when it's dryer! Hahaha. I liked that it wasn't just a hike though, with the scrambling up the rocks. 14 miles and 10 hours round trip.

UPDATE: Hiked Seward Mt again 7/22/14, but via the Caulkin's Brook trail. Great weather and a dry trail. Hiked Mt Donaldson and Emmons first. The hike over from Mt Donaldson was great with some rock scrambling along the way. I highly recommend this route rather than coming up from Ward Brook.

Climbed with Donaldson and Emmons via the Duck Hole Trail from Route 3. Good weather for most of the day. Herd path was easy to follow and provided a real sense of isolation and remoteness. Not much of a view though.

This was a very isolated area back in the early 90s, where you'd only find those serious about completing the 46. Hiked into the area from Ward Brook. Climbed Seward, Donadson, and Emmons - returning the same way. Left my mother on the summit of Seward for an afternoon while we continued onward!

Sun, Sun, Sun, and Mud, Mud, Mud. I heard from other hikers that the HP up from Ward's Brook was like climbing in falling water. Calkins Brook HP was in good shape. Can't say the same about the HP along the ridge.

Hiked from the Coreys Rd trailhead to Seward, Donaldson, and Emmons as a day hike. The herd path on the upper half and ridge was awful. I never want to come here again. This hike tied with my hike of Redfield and Cliff as the worst herd paths I have ever seen.